Newsletters - The DefenderSpring 2010 Issue

As earlier articles in this issue of The Defenderhave
disclosed, SAEN’s ongoing investigation of U.S. labs has brought to
light an epidemic of negligent deaths and abuse of dogs, cats, and
primates. But, these species are not the only victims ravaged by the
negligence of U.S. labs.

On October 27, 2009, a USDA inspection cited Dartmouth College (NH)
for incompetence in improperly euthanizing a hamster who was later
discovered running loose in a carcass freezer.

During a USDA inspection occurring on February 2, 2009, The
University of the South - Sewanee (TN) was cited twice for inadequate
monitoring of experiments by an internal oversight committee. The
citations revolve around an incident which occurred in an environmental
studies class when a raccoon was shot in the head to retrieve a
radio-collar.

Stanford University (CA) was written up in a USDA inspection report
dated October 7, 2009. The offenses stem from negligent surgical
procedures and follow-up. Incidents include a pig dying suspiciously
following surgery, a second animal needlessly bleeding to death during
surgery, and a third animal pointlessly asphyxiating when an oxygen tank
ran out during surgery.

A USDA report dated August, 2009, cited the University of Connecticut
for the death of a rabbit at the conclusion of a surgical procedure.
This caused the lab to be written-up for unqualified personnel.

In August of 2008, the University of California, Santa Barbara, was
cited for a project in which researchers circumvented the Institutional
Animal Care & Use Committee to alter a protocol allowing animals
“that were apparently suffering from significant health issues” to
be used. Because of poor health, many of these animals died during the
procedures or had to be killed shortly thereafter.

The University of Minnesota was cited in May of 2009 for the death of
a rabbit which was first discovered by a USDA inspector. The rabbit had
died without receiving veterinary treatment, despite the fact that
animal care staff had reported signs of illness to the principal
investigator.

Check out the article titled, “SAEN calls on Secretary of
Agriculture to Take Action,” for ways to fight for an end to these
animals’ unnecessary suffering and deaths.